Robbo: United Dons shine

Former Manchester United stars Luke Chadwick and Alan Smith were both showered with praise by MK Dons boss Karl Robinson as they netted the goals which guided his side to their first win in six games.

A Chadwick double and Smith’s first goal of the season saw the Dons record a 3-0 win at struggling Scunthorpe United, and in the process ended a goal drought which had seen the men from MK1 fail to score in their three previous games.

Robinson, delighted to see his side return to winning ways, was quick to pay tribute to two of his more experienced players in Chadwick and Smith.

Speaking after the game, he said: “This is a difficult place to come so to win, score three goals and keep a clean sheet is a great achievement. I think Sir Alex Ferguson will pick up the papers tomorrow and be very proud of his old players in Smithy and Luke Chadwick. The two of them have great class.

“Alan Smith has played for Newcastle, Manchester United and Leeds United and he comes here on a cold day up against a Scunthorpe side and he puts in the same endeavour that he would if he was playing for Manchester United against Chelsea tomorrow. Luke Chadwick is exactly the same and that is why they have played at the highest level because they both have the right attitude.”

In recent weeks Lady Luck has failed to shine on the Dons but there was a touch of fortune which helped Robinson’s men break the deadlock at Glanford Park as Iron ‘keeper Sam Slocombe parried a cross into the path of Chadwick, who duly finished into the back of the net.

Chadwick saved the best for his second though as he curled in a sublime strike at the half-an-hour mark. In reality the midfielder should have walked away with the match ball, but saw a late penalty save by Slocombe.

Robinson added: “He hit it and it wasn’t until the ball stopped in the net that we realised he scored. It was a sense of relief for us all and I saw the weight just lift off us. His second was a wonderful strike, and Alan’s fighting goal at the end was great as well.

“During the week I think the players were as low as they have been as a group of players, I think today showed this group of players have a great togetherness. Ryan Lowe has had a difficult start to his MK Dons career but he gave the penalty to Luke Chadwick, which showed his tremendous quality.”

It has been a tough few weeks for the Dons, but Robinson was pleased to reward the fans’ patience with a well-deserved victory.

"I’m pleased; it’s been a good day for us. People have knocked us and kicked us but we have stood tall and put our shoulders back and walked through all the criticism. It is a tremendous outlay in finance for our fans to come here, so it’s nice to give them three points and three goals to talk about on the coach on the way home.”